The Washington critic., 1887-12-21
WILLIAMS ON THE STAND
lie Tells the Story of the Killing of
William G. Alder.
TESTIMONY IN ON BOTH SIDES.
The Defcpse Try to Show That the De-
ceased Was Quarrclsomc.

The most interesting testimony in the
trial of Lewis Williams, yesterday after
noon, under indictment for the murder
of William c. Alder, near Weeden's
store, Bennings Crossroads, October |,
was given by the dead mans son,
Thomas Alder. He said his father went
into Wecden's store for some beer.
Williams ran against him and asked,
"IIow about that beer?" He replied, 81
amt treating; ! treat white people"
They went in to the main part Of the
store, and Williams began cursing and
swearing. Wceden threatened to put
him out, and Williams said he could not
do II. Williams then went up and shook
his finger in Alder's face, and the latter
pushed his hand away. Witness went
home. He came back and found his
father had been hurt. He went for q
doctor. and when he returned found
that his father had been taken to the
hospital.
Moses Williams, Lewis uncle, testified
that he had told the defendant 10 put
down two stones he had picked up, and
Lewis replied: "Uncle Nose, you give
me good advice"
Hattie Simms testified that Williams
had come TO their house after the kill
ing. She identified a knife shown her
as having belonged to her.
4. Joseph Simms was the first witness
called this morning. He was standing
outside of the store on the night of the
killing, and saw Alder go to the pump.
Williams, according to this witness,
called Alder, who declined to have any
thing to do with him. Williams then
called him "poor white -" and
struck him with the piece of brick.
Alder fell TO the ground, bleeding.
He had heard the defendants uncle,
Moses Williams, tell him to put down
the piece of brick, and Williams an
swered: "I'll put down nothing till
kill him." The witness caught Williams
as he was running away, after the blow
was struck. Williams commanded him
10 release him, and the witness became
frightened and did so. Williams ran
into the woods. Simms picked up the
piece of brick. He identified half of
afterward submitted to the jury, as the
missile. He became intoxicated later in
the evening, and did not remember see
ing him again.
On cross-examination he said that AL
der did not go up to Williams and put
his hand on his shoulder. He did not
hear Williams say his uncle was giving
good advice when he told him to put
down the brick.
WHAT ANOTHER WITNESS SAYS.
James Henry Brooks saw the tussle
on the porch. He saw Williams have
half brick in his hand when Alder
went out to the pump. He was ac-
quainted with Hattie simms and her
husband, and recognized bone-handled
case-knife submitted to him as belong
ing TO Hattie. He saw Williams at
Simms' house on the night Of the kill
ing. Williams was in the kitchen where
that knife was kept. This was the knife
which Williams picked up us he passed
the scene Of the encounter with the
killed him with it If he had not struck
him with the brick.
Martha johnson saw Williams walk
ing up and down the road swearing after
the tussle on the porch. He did not
have anything in his hand the first time
he passed her. The second time she
thought she saw a piece of brick in his
hand. He was muttering TO himself,
where is the man; where is he? Some
people say won't do nothing to no man
If see him. Won't l? Let 'em show
him to me, and they'll see." When
saying, "Bill, YOU beat me-" Alder re-
now; 60 on and behave yourself" Lewis
said, 81 am not done with it." 81 don't
bother with boys" Alder replied. "If
you were man I'd know What to do
with you. Pm done with you" "Well,
amt done with you. If am Pm a
60 b." These words were followed
by the blow with the piece OF brick.
Bernard G. Milstead heard the con-
versation between Alder and Williams.
Alder said to Williams, you've been
drinking; go home. ] don't want to
have any more trouble. Shortly after
this the blow was struck.
OFFICER MARRs TESTIMONY.
Police Officer Wm. I. AIarr testified
that he arrested Williams at about 1:3O
ON the morning OF Sunday, October ., at
the house of Jos. simms, about two
miles from Bennings. On the way he
stopped, stopped down, saying, ~ don't
want TO lose that" The officer asked
what it was. He replied it was knife.
"If hadn't done what 1 did do, that
would have killed me-" Williams ac-
knowledged having struck Alder. The
knife was identified. He saw no bruises
or other marks on Williams face.
Officer r. o. Prathcr, who was with
Officer Mari, gave the same testimony.
This closed the testimony for the Gov
ernment.
THE PRISONER on THE STAND.
Williams took the stand in his own
behalf. He gave his age as H.. Hi
mother died when he was two years old
and he had never secn his father. The
trouble in Weeden's store, he said, was
caused by his being pushed on Alder's
foot. He apologi1ed, but Alder struck
him and knocked him down. He went
AWAY, but returned. Alder said, "You
are acting d--n funny" Witness said
lyon have beat me once" and Alder
replied, eyes, and ri beat you again, u
coming toward him as the words
were spoken. Witness picked up a
stone and struck him. He denied
having walked back and forth with Il
brick in his hand waiting for Alder
He had sworn against Thomas Alder
some months ago, and thought that il
was for this reason that Alder struck
him. When Alder had him down on
the porch he said: "You black niger,
I'm going to break your neck,' and
kicked him on the arm.
On cross-eNamination by Mr.. Worth.
irgton Williams said that Frank Clark,
,lChn Anthony and others had heard
threats made by Alder against him
Subsequent to the threats, however, he
had worked in Alder's barn He had
not been drinking prior to the fuss
When Weeden ordered him out he